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Child Care Services
CHILD CARE PROGRAM UPDATES
In an effort to direct limited child care funds to those working and in need of child care, the state determined to reinstate work requirements for families receiving subsidies and to reinstate eligibility redeterminations that have been extended due to COVID-19.
ELIGIBILITY REDETERMINATIONS
Effective October 30, 2020 – Child Care Services will discontinue blanket extensions of 12-month eligibility redeterminations that are based solely on COVID-19 as the extenuating circumstance and will begin processing all redeterminations upon expiration of their current eligibility period. Any additional extensions may only be authorized on a case-by case basis, in accordance with TWC rules, 40 TAC §809.42(b).
WORK REQUIREMENTS
Effective November 1, 2020 – Child Care Services will discontinue the prior waiver which allowed unemployed families to continue to receive subsidized child care for an indefinite period even when they have a permanent job loss. Effective November 1, 2020 parents may no longer continue to receive subsidized child care indefinitely following a permanent job loss.
Parents who have already received three or more months of child care following permanent job loss will be provided four additional weeks of child care to allow them to meet work or education requirements. Therefore, all parents will continue to receive child care through Friday, November 27, 2020.
To see the news release please visit the TWC website.
PARENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Parents are required to report to CCS, within 14 calendar days of the occurrence, the following:
- Changes in family income or family size that would cause the family to exceed 85 percent of the SMI for a family of the same size;
- Changes in work or attendance at a job training or an educational program that are not considered to be temporary changes;
- Any change in family residence, primary phone number or e-mail address (if applicable).
Failure to report such changes may result in fact-finding for suspected fraud.
ABSENCES/NON-SWIPES
Absences are still not counting against your child’s attendance; however, it may just be a matter of time before this is a requirement again. In preparation parents need to do the following now:
- Locate your attendance card and start using it to record your child’s attendance if the provider has made the swipe machine accessible to parents. You must only Swipe IN once per day (make sure you are swiping IN and not OUT).
- If you cannot locate your card, contact CCS as soon as possible to request a replacement card.
- If you do not need care right now or do not plan to take your child to a child care provider, contact CCS to discuss your options.
- If your child care program is unable to provide services to your child because they do not have space available, contact CCS to discuss your options.
All changes are subject to change, however will make every effort to keep you informed.
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RESOURCES
- Our website at https://workforcesouthplains.org/child-care-services/
- The School Meal Finder Map https://schoolmealfinder.hoonuit.com/?filter_state=tx
- Frontline Child Care: https://frontlinechildcare.texas.gov/index.html
- COVID-19 Child Care Resources – Texas Workforce Comission: https://www.twc.texas.gov/news/covid-19-resources-child-care
The following links provide information on helping your child through this difficult time:
- Look for the helpers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LGHtc_D328
- COVID 19 activity book—a great way to talk to children about the virus and encourage them to talk about their feelings. https://www.mindheart.co/descargables
Please know we are here to provide support to you during this time. You can reach out to us at 806-744-3572 however we ask that if leaving a voicemail, to leave a phone number and email address we can respond to. We will respond as quickly as possible.
Child Care Providers
Workforce Solutions South Plains Child Care Services is committed to providing you the best service possible during this public health situation. We will do our best to keep you informed. Below are the most recent changes made to the Child Care Services program during the COVID-19 pandemic:
USE OF POS MACHINE
- If feasible, please make the swipe card machine available to parents to record attendance (or your phone if you are a home-based program).
- If you are ordered to close by a state or local health authority due to COVID, notify CCS about your status.
PAYMENTS
- Providers will continue to receive CCS payments, including Z days and absences until further notice.
- Providers will be required to supplemental bill to document attendance of CCS referred children to: childcarebilling@spworkforce.org. Supplemental billing forms must be submitted every Tuesday by close of business for the previous week. Failure to report timely may result in negative actions being taken.
PARENT SHARE OF COST
- The Texas Workforce Commission waiver for PSOC expired June 1, 2020. Parents are responsible for payment of their PSOC effective June 1, 2020. Child Care Services may review the assessed parent share of cost for a possible temporary reduction (on a case by case basis) if there are extenuating circumstances that jeopardize a family’s self-sufficiency.
REDETERMINATIONS
- Child Care Services will discontinue blanket extensions of 12-month eligibility redeterminations that are based solely on COVID-19 as the extenuating circumstance and will begin processing all redeterminations upon expiration of their current eligibility period. Any additional extensions may only be authorized on a case-by case basis, in accordance with TWC rules, 40 TAC §809.42(b).
WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR PARENTS
- Effective November 1, 2020 – Child Care Services will discontinue the prior waiver which allowed unemployed families to continue to receive subsidized child care for an indefinite period even when they have a permanent job loss. Effective November 1, 2020 parents may no longer continue to receive subsidized child care indefinitely following a permanent job loss.
Parents who have already received three or more months of child care following permanent job loss will be provided four additional weeks of child care to allow them to meet work or education requirements. Therefore, all parents will continue to receive child care through Friday, November 27, 2020.
REQUIRED REPORTING
- Providers must continue to report drops and absences to CCS as you normally would.
- If your Center closes or reduces operations you must inform CCS Provider Services immediately at: childcareservices@spworkforce.org
All changes are subject to change, however will make every effort to keep you informed.
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ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE REQUIRED FROM TWC ON THE FOLLOWING:
- Activity Interruptions
- Parent Share of Cost
- Texas Rising Star processes
RESOURCES
- Our website at https://workforcesouthplains.org/child-care-services/
- The School Meal Finder Map https://schoolmealfinder.hoonuit.com/?filter_state=tx
The following links provide information on helping children through this difficult time:
- Look for the helpers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LGHtc_D328
- COVID 19 activity book—a great way to talk to children about the virus and encourage them to talk about their feelings. https://www.mindheart.co/descargables
Please know we are here to provide support to you during this time. You can reach out to us at (806) 765-5038 however we ask that if leaving a voicemail, to leave a phone number and email address we can respond to. We will respond as quickly as possible. Thank you!